Syracuse, N.Y. -- For the second year in a row, Syracuse football must replace its starting linebackers.

With Ryan Guthrie and Kielan Whitner graduating, heavy competition is expected once again. And on Thursday, it became clear that one of the team’s most experienced 'backers might not be able to return for the 2019 season.

Shyheim Cullen, a rising redshirt senior, is suspended for the spring due to his academic standing in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

On Monday morning, Cullen’s stepfather, John Brewer, outlined the family’s plan for Cullen to rejoin SU.

Cullen is enrolled at Middlesex Community College in Bedford, Mass., near his hometown of Lowell, and will take three classes in the spring semester. He needs to average a B in the courses, which have been approved as transferable by Falk staff, for the suspension at SU to be lifted. Classes begin this week.

The situation that goes hand-in-hand with Cullen’s academic progress is Syracuse’s scholarship situation. Currently, the program is at 82 scholarships counting players with eligibility to return and the 17 prospects that were signed in December. That number does not include Cullen, outgoing transfers Chance Amie and Devin Butler or offensive lineman Colin Byrne, who said he will not return for his fifth season.

NCAA rules limit teams to 85 scholarship players. It’s yet to be seen if there is additional offseason attrition, as well as how many players the Orange signs in February and afterward.

An encouraging sign for Cullen is that he’s been in contact with multiple members of the SU coaching staff and head strength and conditioning coach Sean Edinger, Brewer said. The staff plans to monitor has academic progress with weekly updates while Edinger will send over workout plans.

If all goes to plan, Cullen will be able to re-enroll in May, work out with the team over the summer and compete for a starting spot in the fall. He recorded a career-high 31 tackles last season, taking over as the team’s third linebacker in 4-3 formations midway through the campaign. He’s also served as one of the team’s most productive special teamers during his time on campus.

Until then, competition will start this spring with rising senior Andrew Armstrong coming in as the team’s most experienced linebacker. Armstrong logged a career-high 45 tackles in 2018, coming on in 4-3 sets over the first half of the year before taking on a versatile role as part of the Orange’s third-down package. He snared a key interception late in the team’s victory over North Carolina State.

Four-star signees Mikel Jones and Lee Kpogba will also have a chance to impress as early enrollees. One more name to watch is redshirt sophomore Tyrell Richards, who could slide back to linebacker from defensive end, where he contributed as a reserve this season.